White House Defends Deportations to El Salvador Amid Court Challenges

The White House defends the deportation of 261 gang members to El Salvador, despite a court ruling halting such actions. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that all deportations complied with legal standards. The deportees have been classified as serious threats, prompting stringent immigration enforcement by the Trump administration, coinciding with a significant reduction in illegal border crossings.

The White House is defending its actions regarding the deportation of hundreds of foreign nationals back to El Salvador, particularly as a court hearing is set to take place this afternoon. Recently, 261 gang members, who entered the United States illegally during the Biden administration, were deported with the cooperation of Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. This decision comes despite a federal judge’s ruling that temporarily halted such deportations due to due process concerns.

At a Monday news conference, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that President Donald Trump acted legally and did not infringe upon the deportees’ due process rights. She clarified that all flights occurred before the judge issued the stay order. Leavitt expressed confidence in the administration’s assessment of the deported individuals’ gang affiliations, noting that 137 of them were recently designated as terrorists under the Alien Enemies Act.

Among those deported, 101 members were linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, while 23 were from the Salvadoran MS-13. Leavitt emphasized the thorough identification process conducted by the Customs and Border Patrol, ICE, and the Department of Homeland Security to ensure the individuals posed a threat to the United States.

President Bukele has agreed to hold these deportees at a facility for an annual cost of $6 million, which Leavitt argues is a reasonable investment compared to the societal costs inflicted by gang activity in the U.S. Under the Biden administration, reported criminal activities by TdA members have been noted in at least 22 states. The Trump administration asserts that strict enforcement of immigration policies is essential to resolve the border crisis experienced in recent years. February saw a record low in illegal border crossings, with border patrol encountering only 28,654 migrants, representing a substantial 90% reduction from 2024.

In summary, the White House is actively justifying its decision to deport gang members to El Salvador, emphasizing compliance with legal standards. The cooperation with president Bukele aims to mitigate threats posed by these individuals to the U.S. The administration asserts the importance of strong immigration enforcement amidst recent reductions in illegal border crossings.

Original Source: www.kpvi.com